Irish Rugby

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport Senior Journalist in Melbourne

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Like everyone else, Andrew Porter was shocked to hear the news that Garry Ringrose had unselfishly withdrawn himself from the Lions team for Saturday’s second Test against Australia.

The Leinster centre told head coach Andy Farrell at the end of Thursday’s training session that he was experiencing concussion symptoms.

Ringrose first suffered the symptoms in the game against the Brumbies in Canberra two weeks ago and they caused him to miss the first Test.

He returned against the First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday, but has now been replaced in the team by Huw Jones.

"I actually only heard that before coming here (to speak to the media) that he actually withdrawn himself and that he wasn't pulled aside by a coach," said Porter.

"It's incredibly disappointing for Garry but it just goes to show the character and the player that he is to pull himself aside.

"I think that's an incredibly hard thing to do - and given the magnitude of the game - but it's testament to the player and person he is to be able to put the team first.

"In that sense if he's not right, he's not right and he's looking to let someone who's fit and able to come into the squad and do the job."

Porter has replaced England‘s Ellis Genge and is one of nine Irish internationals in the starting line-up, a new record for a Lions Test match. He will pack down in the front row with fellow Irish and Leinster team-mates Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong.

"Obviously there's that comfort level to be able to pack down with two of your club and countrymen," said Porter.

"They've obviously had an incredible tour individually and it's great being able to come and start alongside them in this huge game in the MCG, so it’s incredibly exciting."

Porter can’t wait to step out in front of what is expected to be a crowd in excess of 90,000 but knows with the return of Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, the Australians could be a different animal to the one the Lions beat a week ago in Brisbane.

"It was an incredibly physical game last week but I think it's going to be another step up again in terms of physicality," he added.

"They’re going with a 6-2 split on the bench as well and with Skelton and Valetini, who are great ball carriers and incredibly experienced players, we're obviously gearing up for an incredibly physical game and as forwards you're always looking forward to those close quarter confrontations.

"We’re looking to continue on from the work we did last week. We obviously had a great first half and just a few errors maybe in the second half let them build a bit of pressure that let them into the game.

"We're just looking for that complete performance as a team and I think we've been building on that for the last few weeks. That performance is overdue and I think it's due to come on Saturday."

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Ireland head coach Scott Bemand believes his side are further along in their journey than he anticipated they would be at this stage of his tenure.

Bemand is preparing his side up for the Rugby World Cup in England next month, with Ireland drawn against Japan, Spain and New Zealand in Pool C.

Whilst pleased with their success, which includes qualifying for the tournament, beating New Zealand in the WXV1 and finishing third in the Women's Six Nations, he has been surprised by their quick progress.

"Whatever happens in this World Cup, when I was sat in the interview for this job two years ago, I was talking about Australia World Cup in 2029," he told BBC Sport NI's Orla Bannon.

"I'm not surprised with the level of performance the girls have got to, but with where we have got to, it is a bit sooner than we thought, but we won't fight it."

Bemand dismissed the notion that the World Cup is "a free hit" and is hoping his players can perform to their potential as they aim to reach the knockout stages.

"We have earned the right to be here and we're not under the radar now, we want to deliver on the world stage and if the time is now, it is now and there's an internal pressure to deliver on what we are capable of," he added.

"We have two warm-up games and by the time we get to the shores of England, we will be ready. We're concentrated on getting our best performance out there and if we do, the results will take care of themselves.

"We believe we have the capability to get to London [where the semi-finals are being held], so why not dream?"

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British and Irish Lions assistant coach Simon Easterby said that Thomas Clarkson and Jamie Osborne "fully deserve" to be included in the squad against a First Nations and Pasifika XV on Tuesday.

The Leinster duo were late call-ups to the Lions squad as cover after featuring in Ireland's summer tour.

Osborne will make his debut at outside centre, partnering captain Owen Farrell, whilst Clarkson is amongst the replacements and Easterby believes their displays for club and country merit their inclusion.

"It goes without saying the quality of those two individuals. Tom has fought through a pretty tough position at Leinster, never mind in the Irish squad, and he's put in some brilliant performances," he said.

"Jamie has had a brilliant couple of years. The performance he had in South Africa last summer and his performance for Leinster playing 12, 13 or wing, it's pretty impressive the positions he can cover and the quality he brings.

"I'm really pleased for the two of them, they fully deserve being here and I have no doubt they will perform tomorrow."

The Lions starting team does not include any of the players who featured in the first-Test win against Australia.

Easterby dismissed the idea that Tuesday's game is a "distraction" ahead of the second Test against Joe Schmidt's side on Saturday.

Instead, he urged the players that are involved to take the Pasifika game as a chance to force their way into Andy Farrell's plans with a good performance at the Marvel Stadium.

"The players know there is an opportunity there," Easterby added.

"Faz [Andy Farrell] in his selection overall has given guys opportunities based on the performances they have created on tour.

"I believe the group is so competitive at the minute and I don't think that will be any different with the prize of featuring in the second or third Test."

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport Senior Journalist in Melbourne

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Tadhg Furlong has been there, done that and bought the T-shirt.

The veteran prop was making his seventh Test match start for the Lions and any doubts anyone had if he was worthy of his place after two seasons of stop-start rugby for Leinster and Ireland because of niggling injuries were dispelled as he produced a performance to match any in his stellar career.

In 2017, Furlong was a member of the Lions squad that lost the first Test in New Zealand but came back to win the second and tie the third.

Four years later in South Africa, the Lions went one-nil up before losing the series as the Springboks came roaring back.

Furlong has experienced the physical and mental struggles of being ahead and behind in a three-match series and heading into the second Test in Melbourne, he's unlikely to hop on an emotional rollercoaster.

"There's two sides of the coin," explained Furlong.

"Obviously it's on us that we don't get complacent and we learn the lessons.

"We have a midweek game again. It's great to see the boys go out and see who puts their hands up. If the lads go well on Tuesday then it will put them in contention.

"The other side of that is we know what it means to the Aussies.

"The desperation is all in there for them next weekend.

"Every series is different but some things remain the same no matter what.

"There is a flow to it. The group is edgy. We don't know each other, we don't know the Australians and they don't know us and what it's actually like on the pitch.

"You watch all the video. You do all your prep.

"There's a realisation after that of what it takes and what it felt like in the game."

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Furlong was feeling so good on Saturday night that at one stage he threw a 20 metre pass with unerring accuracy, not always a prop's greatest strength.

"A floaty one, he admitted.

"I thought it was good. I know it was on penalty advantage but your confidence is there.

"It was that kind of game where I was attacking well and getting through a few carries."

On his third tour, Furlong has never missed a Test match, all that's missing is being part of a series win.

He'll get that chance in Melbourne on Saturday.

Nigel Ringland
BBC Sport Senior Journalist in Brisbane

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Eight Ireland internationals will start for the British and Irish Lions in the first Test against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.

Full-back Hugo Keenan, wing James Lowe and scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park are named among the backs while Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Jack Conan and Tadhg Beirne will pack down together up front.

And there could be more appearances from the Irish contingent with prop Andrew Porter, hooker Ronan Kelleher and centre Bundee Aki all named amongst the replacements.

It equals the record of most Ireland players to start a Lions Test that dates back to the third Test in South Africa in 1938.

Five of the eight were from Ulster, including captain Sammy Walker.

Blair Mayne, George Cromey, Harry Mckibbin and Robert Alexander were the others and were joined by Robert Graves, Charles Boyles and George Morgan.

That game was also the last that the Lions wore blue shirts in a Test match.

None of the starters is a surprise with Keenan as the only recognised full-back in the squad at the moment with Blair Kinghorn out injured.

With Garry Ringrose out with concussion, an all-Scottish midfield combination of Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu is preferred with Aki starting on the bench.

Perhaps the most debated selection is that of Beirne over England’s Ollie Chessum in the back row alongside Conan and Tom Curry with Josh Van der Flier missing out.

At times Beirne has not looked like his normal commanding self, but he has captained the side to a pair of wins.

“Yeah, I suppose that's the hotly contested one, part of the side that's been talked about for quite some time and rightly so because of the quality that we've got there,” admitted Farrell.

”Obviously we feel that that's the right balance for the first Test, the combination of Tadhg, being the type of player that he is, as far as his quality in the set-piece but yet his all-round ability, either on the floor or a ball-playing six.

“I think that complements Jack in a similar regard and Tom being the engine that we all know that you need in regards to Test match football.”

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Ireland forward Aoife Wafer is a doubt for the Rugby World Cup after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.

Wafer, who was named 2025 Six Nations Player of the Championship, is set to miss Ireland's two warm-up games against Scotland and Canada next month.

The 22-year-old faces a race against time to be fit for Ireland's World Cup Pool C opener against Japan in Northampton on 24 August.

Scott Bemand's side face Spain on 31 August and holders New Zealand on 7 September in their remaining pool games.

Wafer, who will join Harlequins from Leinster after the tournament in England, scored four tries for Ireland in the Six Nations but missed the last game of the championship after damaging knee ligaments against Wales.

Her fitness has become increasingly significant for Ireland following injuries to back rowers Dorothy Wall and Erin King, who will both miss the World Cup.

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The fixture details for this year's Investec Champions Cup and Challenge Cup matches involving the four Irish provinces have been revealed.

Ulster will begin their Challenge Cup campaign with a home game against Racing 92 at the newly-named Affidea Stadium in Belfast on Friday 5 December (20:00 GMT).

Richie Murphy's side will then travel to face Cardiff away on Saturday 13 December (20:00), before taking on the Cheetahs at a European venue still to be confirmed on Sunday 11 January (15:15) and concluding with a home match against Stade Francais on Saturday 17 January (13:00).

In the Champions Cup, Leinster host Harlequins on 6 December (17:30), with the venue to be confirmed, with Munster away to Bath on the same day (20:00)

On Friday 12 December, Leinster are on the road to take on Leicester Tigers at Welford Road (20:00), with Munster hosting Gloucester at 17:30 on 13 December.

Leinster entertain La Rochelle on Saturday 10 January (17:30), then Munster are away to Toulon on 11 January (13:00).

In the final round of pool games, Leinster face Bayonne away on Saturday 17 January (15:15) and Munster play Castres at Thomond Park at 17:30 on the same day.

Connacht's Challenge Cup campaign commences with a trip to Ospreys on Sunday 7 December (15:15), followed by games at home to Black Lion (Saturday 13 December, 20:00), away to Montpellier (Sunday 11 January, 13:00) and home to US Montauban (Saturday 17 January, 20:00).

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Versatile back Jimmy O'Brien says he is keen to make the most of his chance with Ireland while the bulk of the squad are on British and Irish Lions duty.

O'Brien made his Test debut against South Africa in 2022, but has been in and out of the squad since, with injuries playing their part.

The 28-year-old, who can operate at full-back, centre and on either wing, has been retained for Saturday's Test against Portugal, having played 80 minutes of last weekend's 34-5 win over Georgia in the 15 jersey.

"It's about taking the opportunity," said O'Brien, who was a key part of Leinster's 2024-25 United Rugby Championship win.

"Obviously some of the lads are away with Lions and there's a lot of lads, myself included, who have been waiting for an opportunity to play over the last couple of years.

"[We're] trying to get back in the green shirt so we're trying to take the opportunity when we get it."

O'Brien says the Ireland squad are expecting "polar opposite" conditions in Lisbon after the heavy rain they experienced in Tbilisi.

"Portugal are probably a bit more used to this than us," added Kildare native.

"They'll probably try and keep the ball in play and run us around but we back our fitness and hopefully we can perform."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

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Summer test: Portugal v Ireland

Venue: Estadio Nacional do Jamor, Lisbon Date: Saturday, 12 June Kick-off: 19:00 BST

Coverage: Live text updates, report and reaction on BBC Sport website & app

Ireland interim head coach Paul O'Connell says Jack Crowley has the opportunity to "follow up" on Sam Prendergast's "excellent" performance in the win over Georgia in Saturday's Test against Portugal.

With Crowley having started Ireland's final Six Nations game, Prendergast shone on his return to the line-up in Tbilisi, converting all six of his kicks off the tee in a 34-5 Irish win in tough conditions.

The 22-year-old, who also had what would have been his first international try ruled out, is not included in the matchday squad for this weekend's contest at Estadio Nacional do Jamor in Lisbon with Crowley returning to the 10 jersey.

"It's a very important position, out-half, I think more and more important in the game than it's ever been," said O'Connell, who has led Ireland's summer tour while head coach Andy Farrell is away with the British and Irish Lions.

"They probably don't touch the ball as much as the nines, but they probably make more decisions than anyone else on the field and they really decide how we play the game. Having two guys that are confident, that we believe in, that get to get in and play our way and make mistakes and learn and get it right and learn from that as well is really important.

"It's just an opportunity for Jack to own the week and run it and get after it. It's great for us, the two of them are quite supportive of each other, they learn a lot from each other, so it's just a brilliant opportunity for us to give more experience to Jack."

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O'Connell praised Leinster out-half Prendergast's performance and kicking accuracy in the win over Georgia.

"When you get a lead of more than two scores in those conditions, it's very tough to come from behind we were able to keep them at arm's length with our kicking game and his kicking made a big contribution to it.

"He also added a layer of unpredictability to our attack in tough conditions and led the group really well. The feedback from [forwards coach] Colm Tucker and the guys that were bringing the water on was he was leading the group really well. We're delighted with him and it's an opportunity to Jack to follow up."

O'Connell has handed debuts to Shayne Bolton, Alex Kendellen and Hugh Gavin in a team showing six changes as Ireland prepare for their last game until they face the All Blacks in Chicago on 1 November.

Portugal are ranked 18th in the world, seven places below Georgia, but they scored three tries in a 64-21 loss to world champions South Africa last year and that has not escaped O'Connell's notice.

"They take a lot of quick taps, a lot of quick lie-outs, they want to play quickly, they've very good backs, nippy backs," said O'Connell.

"I was on to [South Africa defence coach] Jerry Flannery there, they conceded three tries when they played against South Africa.

"Their backs are quite a threat, so the ball will get more air from both sides. We want to play with the ball more than we did with Georgia, but we're happy enough not to play with it if it's conditions like last week."

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With 16 players on British and Irish Lions duty this summer, interim Ireland head coach Paul O'Connell's 33-man squad for this summer's matches against Georgia and Portugal features 13 uncapped players. BBC Sport NI takes a closer look at those hoping to feature in green for the first time.

Alex Kendellen deservedly secured his first Ireland call-up at the end of a busy season that saw him make 22 appearances for Munster, scoring four tries including one in the Champions Cup.

Capable of playing across the back row, the Cork-born 24-year-old has made steady progression since his debut for the province in 2021, impressing for the Ireland under-20s in their Six Nations campaign that year before featuring in all 25 of Munster's games in the 2023-24 season.

Having been ruled out of the 2022 Emerging Ireland tour through concussion, Kendellen captained the young squad in their South African trip last autumn.

With 89 games already under his belt for Munster, Kendellen hopes to muscle his way into Ireland's long-term back-row options - and he has been given the chance to impress from the start against Portugal.

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI senior journalist

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Ireland interim head coach Paul O'Connell has included three new caps in a team showing six changes for Saturday's Test against Portugal in Lisbon (19:00 BST).

Connacht wing Shayne Bolton and Munster back row Kendellen were originally named in O'Connell's line-up, while Connacht centre Hugh Gavin was promoted to the starting team after Jamie Osborne's call-up to the British and Irish Lions squad.

Munster wing Calvin Nash takes Gavin's place on the Ireland bench.

Bolton replaces Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale, who injured his shoulder in the 34-5 win over Georgia in Tbilisi last week, while Kendellen comes in at open-side flanker for Nick Timoney, who drops out of the squad.

Six players made their Ireland debuts against Georgia: Tommy O'Brien and Darragh Murray started, while Michael Milne, Jack Aungier, Tom Ahern, and Ben Murphy came off the bench.

Jack Crowley will start at fly-half with Sam Prendergast, who scored 14 points against Georgia, not named in O'Connell's 23-man matchday squad.

O'Connell opts for the same front row of Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy and Tom Clarkson, while Munster's Tom Ahern comes in for his first start in the second row alongside Darragh Murray, as Cormac Izuchukwu drops to the bench.

Connacht's Cian Prendergast, who was forced to withdraw from last week's game because of illness, starts at number eight.

"I have been really pleased with the attitude of the players over the last number of weeks," said O'Connell.

"The dedication and diligence of the squad in testing conditions over in Tbilisi demonstrated the players' willingness to embrace challenges and hopefully that bodes well again this weekend."

Ireland: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, H Gavin, S McCloskey, S Bolton; J Crowley, C Casey (capt); J Boyle, G McCarthy, T Clarkson; T Ahern, D Murray; R Baird, A Kendellen, C Prendergast.

Replacements: T Stewart, M Milne, T O'Toole, C Izuchukwu, M Deegan, B Murphy, C Frawley, C Nash.

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With 16 players on British and Irish Lions duty this summer, interim Ireland head coach Paul O'Connell's 33-man squad for this summer's matches against Georgia and Portugal features 13 uncapped players. BBC Sport NI takes a closer look at those hoping to feature in green for the first time.

Having once dreamed of representing the Springboks, Shayne Bolton hopes this summer marks the start of a successful Ireland career, four years on from leaving his native South Africa to join Connacht.

The imposing 24-year-old wing caught the eye for the western province during the 2024-25 season, scoring six tries in 13 games and five in his last seven.

Injury robbed him of the chance to impress on the Emerging Ireland's tour of South Africa last autumn, but he was called up as injury cover during the Six Nations and scored a try in Ireland A's defeat by England in February.

Standing 6ft 2ins tall and with pace to burn on the right wing, Bolton provides an intriguing alternative to the more established widemen in O'Connell's squad.

Bolton will have his first chance to impress in an Ireland shirt after being named to start against Portugal on Saturday.

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Ireland hooker Gus McCarthy believes competition for places at Leinster is helping him develop as a player.

The 21-year-old won his fifth Test cap in his side's 34-5 win over Georgia in Tbilisi last week having made his debut against Fiji in November.

With British and Irish Lions Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher ahead of him in the pecking order at Leinster, McCarthy played just three times for his province between the end of the Six Nations and conclusion of the domestic season in June.

"I haven't played a huge amount. I didn't really get involved in the URC knock-out matches or the latter end of the Champions Cup," said McCarthy.

"I did get quite a bit of game-time in the middle of the season. It's great to learn from the best, some seriously good talent.

"The competition is endless, it's constant competition which keeps you on your toes. It's very positive."

Ireland will conclude their two-Test summer tour against Portugal in Lisbon on Saturday (19:00 BST).

The trip is being lead by usual forwards coach Paul O'Connell and an interim ticket of assistants with Andy Farrell and 16 members of his playing panel on tour in Australia with the Lions.

"Portugal are a very, very attacking and dangerous side. We've watched a lot of them. They aren't to be taken lightly," McCarthy added.

"We're going to put a lot of prep in and make sure we're all guns loaded for Saturday. We're really, really looking forward to the challenge."

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Ireland interim forwards coach Cullie Tucker says their Test against Portugal on Saturday is one that will provide a "significant" challenge.

With usual head coach Andy Farrell and 16 players on British and Irish Lions duty in Australia, Paul O'Connell leads the inexperienced side into the game in Lisbon after a comfortable 34-5 win against Georgia last weekend.

And while pleased with their performance in the victory in Tbilisi, Tucker believes Portugal - under former Racing 92 and Munster assistant Simon Mannix - will provide another stern test.

"They're a very good rugby team and it is a game that needs to be taken very seriously," he said.

"We're here to win two games and they're going to provide a different challenge to Georgia and a significant one with the heat on top of that.

"They're coached by Simon Mannix, who is a serious operator, so it is going to be a very tough game, and we are going to prepare for it to be tough."

Tucker took interim charge of Connacht last season after the departure of Pete Wilkins but will return to his role as scrum and contact coach at the province after Ireland's summer tour to work under new boss Stuart Lancaster.

He said the experience away as a coach with Ireland under O'Connell has been hugely beneficial.

"It's been a brilliant experience, it is always good to get in with new coaches, but the calibre of coaching has been outstanding," he added.

"It is great to work with them and everyone is across each other, so it is great to have that environment. We're being really accurate with the messages we have been delivering, and Paul has been driving that."

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Jacob Stockdale has been ruled out of Ireland's match with Portugal after suffering a shoulder injury in Saturday's win in Georgia.

The Ulster wing was forced off late in the first half of the 34-5 win with his left arm in a makeshift sling using his shirt.

In a squad update issued on Monday, Ireland confirmed that the 29-year-old will be absent for the final game of the summer tour in Portugal on Saturday (19:00 BST) and will see a specialist in Ireland next week.

It is the latest blow for Stockdale in an Ireland jersey, who was forced off with a hamstring injury in his previous international appearance against Fiji in November.

With 16 Ireland players on British and Irish Lions duty, Stockdale was the most experienced international in interim head coach Paul O'Connell's squad.

Cian Prendergast has recovered from illness and will be available for selection after missing the win against Georgia.

Stockdale's Ulster team-mate Scott Wilson has also returned home after the prop was called up as injury cover.

O'Connell has no further injury concerns and will name his team for the game against Portugal on Thursday.

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Ireland interim head coach Paul O'Connell said he "loved" the "intent and hunger" his players showed in the 34-5 win over Georgia in Tbilisi.

An inexperienced Ireland squad which featured six debutants proved too strong for their hosts thanks to Tommy O'Brien's early double and second-half tries from first-time captain Craig Casey and Nick Timoney.

O'Connell, who will also lead Ireland in next week's match with Portugal in Lisbon while head coach Andy Farrell leads the British and Irish Lions, was buoyed by how his side adapted to the wet conditions.

The former Ireland captain said: "We prepared for certain conditions.

"Unfortunately, it ended up with different conditions and that's what's most most pleasing: our half-backs and the leadership in the team were able to flick a switch and change the plan and deliver a really accurate plan given the conditions we had.

"I loved the intent the players played with, I loved the hunger they played with, I loved how tough they were and how accurate they were."

O'Brien was one of two Ireland debutants in the starting line-up, with Michael Milne, Tom Ahern, Jack Aungier and Ben Murphy earning their first caps off the bench.

"In terms of our new caps, it's exciting because we actually haven't had a massive amount of injuries in the past few years," added O'Connell.

"Sometimes you need someone to have an injury to get a chance, so for the team to have done so well to allow so many players to go on the Lions tour and give these players an opportunity is brilliant for us.

"They all have a story to tell. Tommy O'Brien played against Georgia in 2018 as an Under-20 player, he's been through a lot of stuff with injuries. Other guys have had to move province to try and get game time. They've been through a lot to get their opportunity."

Casey, whose early second-half try dented Georgia's hopes of launching a fightback, said captaining his country is "certainly up there" with the best moments of his career.

"Very nice feeling feeling in that dressing room afterwards," said the Munster scrum-half, 26.

"Building all week, winning is the most important especially as the captain and it's certainly a nice feeling, so it ranks highly."